As Dr. Valdiserri mentioned in last week's post, "The conference provides a critically important global forum for basic scientists, clinicians, and global health researchers to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and the diseases they produce with the ultimate goal of translating laboratory and clinical research into progress against the AIDS epidemic—at home and abroad."

We encourage you to take a look at the video, audio, slides and downloads that are available on the conference site. It's another example of how new media helps to level the playing field - providing us all with access to information, like the research and news coming from CROI. And continue to stay tuned to this blog for Dr. Valdiserri's updates.

As we start the New Year, we're launching a series about new media planning. In upcoming weeks we'll be hearing from our community and Federal colleagues about steps they are taking to implement a new media strategy. At AIDS.gov we use new media strategies to provide access to Federal HIV information, policies (e.g. the National HIV/AIDS Strategy), programs, and resources. In order to best do this, we receive planning guidance from a cross-agency planning group called the Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council (FHAWC).

The Council includes Web, subject matter experts (content), and communications leads from over twenty programs, agencies and offices, representing HIV programs across the U.S. Government. Members plan and implement Federal new media efforts around HIV. In addition, the Council promotes coordination and collaboration to improve delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment messages and services via new media. The AIDS.gov team convenes the Council's monthly conference calls and coordinates an annual in-person meeting.

New MediaJuly 06, 2010

Each year I am honored to see all the ways individuals and groups take action for National HIV Testing Day (June 27) — from conversations with loved ones, to getting tested, to attending or organizing local HIV testing events, to hosting press conferences, to convening online events. This year, I was particularly excited to see so much involvement from so many diverse stakeholders — government (Federal, state, and local), community, private sector, and individuals. We were inspired by CDC’s Dr. Kevin Fenton’s remarks during our National HIV Testing Day webinar for Federal employees and grantees on the current and future state of HIV testing.